Is ARK 2 Actually a "Soulslike" RPG?

Nov. 21, 2024

Is ARK 2 Actually a “Soulslike” RPG?

If you’re in need of a prehistoric survival game with supposed soulslike combat, then you might want to stick around for this, because in this article, we’ll be talking aboutARK2, the upcoming sequel toARK: Survival Evolvedfrom Studio Wildcard.

Now, for those who aren’t familiar withARK: Survival Evolved, it’s an open-world game where you need to survive in a prehistoric setting full of giant birds and dinosaurs among other creatures. To stay alive, you’ll be setting up bases and crafting weapons that range from clubs to assault rifles. And what’s actually neat about it is that you get to capture and tame these ancient beasts so you can ride them and make them do your bidding. Yes, Palworld isn’t the first one to do it. Ark 2 expands on the survival and open-world elements of the original game but with some major changes that we will talk about a little bit later in this article.

ARK2goes into its world-building, shifting its focus to a richer narrative set on the mysterious planetArat, which is a different setting from the familiarARKinstallations of the first game. The story centers onSantiago da Costa(played by Vin Diesel), who, along with his daughterMika, navigates a harsh landscape teeming with both familiar and strange creatures. It’s important to note that this isn’t the clone of Santiago from the original game, but the clone of Santiago in the Genesis 2 DLC of the base game.

This sequel explores Santiago’s struggle to protect his tribe while confronting his past. It’s kind of amusing to know that this Vin Diesel-related game will still have themes revolving around family. He’ll probably never escape the memes at this point. As he attempts to build a new life, players will encounter threats from the environment and a new enemy faction, theAratai, who can tame and control dinosaurs just like players. This should add some challenge to the game, especially in single-player scenarios, where these humanoid enemies could be a different kind of problem from what players of the original have gotten used to.

The planet Arat is a harsh and untamed world, featuring diverse ecosystems filled with creatures that migrated from an Earth long gone. Like the previous games,ARK2starts out with a moreprimal, survival-focusedaesthetic. The early game footage shows rudimentary tools and primitive weapons like bows and arrows, forcing players to rely on their wits, crafting skills, and exploration to escape death. Technology and futuristic elements might still be craftable in this game, but they seem to be more limited, which might make the journey of discovery and progress feel more grounded in this hostile new setting.

The story also leans more into tribal warfare this time, with the Aratai faction being a big part of the game’s conflict. You’ll have to deal with these tribal dynamics while surviving the harsh environment and all the creatures wandering around. It’s clear the game is going for a more story-driven vibe, with quests and objectives probably going into Santiago’s journey, the lore of Arat, and maybe even some time-bending events. As you progress, there’s a chance to uncover bigger secrets about the planet and how it ties into the world of the first game.

ARK 2is making some big changes to how the game plays. First off, it’s switching to athird-person-onlyview, so you’ll always see your character on screen rather than switching between first and third-person like in the original title. I know that some of the player-base will want an option to have a first-person view but I think the change is fitting because they’ve pretty much changed most of the combat system. The game’s movement system is also getting a major upgrade, adding features likeclimbing, parkour, sliding, and swinging. These new mechanics should make getting around the world of Arat feel a lot more dynamic.

Combat is getting a complete overhaul too. This time, the devs said that they are going for a more “Soulslike” style, which probably means battles will require more strategy and skill compared to the game’s predecessor. But I’m not entirely sold on the whole idea. The use of the word “soulslike” has gotten quite loose recently. I’ve seen games get described as “soulslike” even though they only have dodge roll mechanics and blocking in their combat.

I’m wondering if they’re going to make the enemies damage sponges, if the combat forARK2 will be stamina-based, or if they’re going to introduce checkpoints. Having the ability to just dodge or parry enemies while locking on to them doesn’t automatically make the game soulslike. And I’m more curious as to how they’ll implement it in a game that mostly revolves around prehistoric creatures. Creatures that range from ones the size of doorways to ones that are just gigantic. It kind of removes the theme where you’re a fragile human being going up against colossal creatures with only your wits and craftmanship to rely on. I can see it working if you’re against the Aratai though since they are described to be humanoid. One thing is for sure, this is a big change from the simpler combat inARK 1, and it does make encounters with enemies like the new Aratai faction or wild creatures more challenging. Only time will tell if this will be a good change or not.

The crafting system is also much more complex now compared to the previous game. Now, instead of just making basic tools and weapons, you’ll be able tocustomize and upgrade themin more detailed ways. For example, you can change the handle or blade of an axe to improve its performance or give it a unique look. My guess is that you can probably tweak your gear to fit how you like to play, whether that’s focusing on damage, durability, or special effects.

Survival is still the main focus, butARK 2is supposedly dialing back the high-tech gadgets from the original game, especially early on. Advanced technology will most likely come later as you progress so you probably won’t have to worry about missing out on firearms. It seems like the game wants you to feel like you’re going through a gradual journey from primitive survival to mastering the environment. Plus, dinosaurs will be smarter since they’ll have a much improved AI. They can track you bysight, sound, and smell, so you’ll need to use tricks like camouflage or hiding your scent to avoid detection.

Building and community features are also being expanded on inARK 2. It will support modding on both PC and consoles, letting players share mods and custom building templates across platforms. This means you’ll be able to download or share base designs with other players, making collaboration and creativity easier than ever. Not a fan of playing a character who looks like Dominic Toretto? You can probably grab a mod to reskin him into someone else.

Multiplayer is also benefiting from cross-platform mod support through mod.io, so PC and Xbox players can seamlessly enjoy user-generated content. Mods could possibly bring in new dinosaurs, items, or gameplay mechanics, keeping the multiplayer experience fresh and dynamic. On top of that, the game will support dedicated servers, giving players the freedom to craft their own survival adventures with custom maps or tailored gameplay settings.

Character progression will also be more detailed this time around. The game will include a skill tree with differentabilities, perks, and special skillsto unlock, similar to RPGs likeThe Elder Scrolls. This system will let you build your character to fit your playstyle, whether you want to focus on combat, crafting, or survival skills. Overall, it’s about giving players more control over how they develop their character and tackle the challenges on Arat.

ARK 2also builds on its predecessor’s multiplayer foundations with several enhancements designed to create a better online experience. At its core, the game still has thesurvival MMOelements fans loved inARK: Survival Evolved, where players can band together in tribes, pool resources, and tame the planet’s prehistoric creatures. I’m not entirely sure how they will go about with the multiplayer. In the previous game, the host could invite several players into their world and these players could help the host out, but the devs did mention that there will be dedicated servers where players can build their own bases.

The development ofARK 2is tied closely to Microsoft’s ecosystem, with the game set to launch as a console exclusive on Xbox Series X and PC. Additionally,ARK2will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one, highlighting the strong partnership between Studio Wildcard and Microsoft. This collaboration has been ongoing since the originalARK: Survival Evolveddays, with the first game benefiting from early access on Xbox and continuous Game Pass support over the years. There’s speculation thatARK2might follow a similar early access model, though nothing has been officially confirmed on that end yet.

Vin Diesel is involved inARK2as both an executive producer and the character Santiago, who some might recognize fromARK: Genesis Part 2. While star power in games often feels more like a marketing move than anything meaningful, Diesel is actually a fan of the originalARK. This could possibly be a good thing because his love for the game might help him pitch some ideas that players will appreciate. Studio Wildcard’s CEO has also said that Diesel’s deep knowledge of the game has been helpful during development, which kind of explains his unusual title, “President of Creative Convergence”. I don’t even know what that means. Vin’s character, Santiago will also appear in the upcomingARK: The Animated Series, tying the game and show together.

Overall,ARK2does seem to have the potential to be something fans will enjoy, but at this point, we’ve seen so little of the game that it’s hard to say how it will actually play. Personally, I’m not entirely sold on the supposed Soulslike combat. It feels like an unnecessary addition to an action-survival game, especially one where you’re constantly facing dinosaurs. Instead, it might have been better to refine and improve the combat system from the first game. Removing the ability to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives is also a bit disappointing since the first-person view really showcased the game’s beauty and made it easier to admire the dinosaurs up close. That said, if they implement the new combat system well, it could end up being a hit, but for now, it’s something I’m not fully convinced about.

What I like about the game is the inclusion of the Aratai. It’s interesting to see how the game will throw enemies who can tame dinosaurs at you. Maybe you could even have small-scale dinosaur wars or something.

What about you? How do you feel about the game so far? Do the changes excite you, or do you have concerns? Let us know in the comments!

Castielle

Senior Editor at Fextralife. I enjoy gaming, playing and watching sports, cooking yummy food, watching a good movie and hanging out with Fex.